This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of GRATITUDE. Gratitude means you are aware of and thankful for good things that happen.
Gratitude is the quality of feelings and expressing thankfulness and appreciation. It is an affirmation that there is goodness in other people and the world and that we have received that goodness.
Fourth graders learned about Giant Sequoias and Coastal Redwoods in STEAM and then collaborated to build models of them using cards and connectors.
The Ithaca 5th graders invite you to an engaging community event on Veterans Day at the All Wars Memorial in downtown Ithaca, this Saturday at 11 AM. You can read all about it in the Gratiot County Herald and Morning Sun! Scan the QR code in the picture for a video from 5th graders!
Students have learned that keeping track of our digital footprint is important, and the choices we make about our own digital footprint can impact others as well as themselves. It is important to pause and think before posting, sharing, or visiting websites and apps to ensure smart choices are being made for everyone's digital footprint.
Our students have also been engaging in conversations about cyberbullying. These conversations have been impactful in the technology classroom because students are learning strategies to help them handle these kinds of situations by being upstanders in their friend groups and communities.
Here are some links to resources about both of these topics:
Digital Footprint 3-5: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jqE5CLfzAjXdLY-6c26Ri15XNeidRAFU1jt47TmJ6GQ/edit?usp=sharing
Thinking Traps 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9aV4mgVya4
Cyberbullying 3-5: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QXn58bg3G4ptPeEpG2nuzF7CmOgXYq8HBbfUWGxRv98/edit?usp=sharing
Cyberbullying 6: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14-6deXF8qN8e_ev2SORPDK4FXcMdno5t3cEH0l6cmzU/edit?usp=sharing
On behalf of the Board of Education, I thank the Ithaca Public Schools’ voters for their support of the renewal of the sinking fund. Approval of the sinking fund will allow the school district to continue to update facilities, improve school security, upgrade technology, and purchase new buses and vans.
Again, I am grateful to the parents, staff, students, and other members of the community who helped us inform people about the sinking fund renewal.
Thank you for your continued support!
Steven Netzley
Superintendent
This week in Tech, we are focusing on Digital Citizenship. Students have been engaging in activities at school to practice their DC skills. Monday's focus was media balance, and Tuesday's focus was staying safe online. Shared below are activities families can do together at home, or family resources to reinforce the learning students have done at school.
Media Balance 3-5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WhzaO0DVJM
Media Balance 6: https://www.commonsense.org/education/family-tips/6-12-media-balance-and-well-being
Staying Safe Online 3-5: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/family-tech-planners
Staying Safe Online 6: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1moJRD4r9umukn7MwZ847tTMRRYYt7Uu2ym1lAw1zHoI/edit#slide=id.g3d07a721d2_1_0
After learning about irrigation systems in STEAM lab, fifth graders collaborated to move water (a marble) from one end of the table to another by creating paper canals.
Don't forget to vote! If you'd like more information on the 2023 Sinking Fund renewal, please visit www.ithacaschools.net/page/sinking-fund-renewal.
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Bravery. Bravery means you act with mental, moral, or physical strength even when you know things are difficult or scary.
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”--ROSA PARKS
Hello North Families,
I cannot believe we had our first snow before November! Our students were very well behaved for Halloween! Please make sure that you are sending your child to school with warm clothing! Have a great weekend!
--
Go Jackets!
Jessie Rayburn
North Elementary Principal
Ithaca Public Schools
jmiller@ithacaschools.net
989-875-3047
Congratulations to Aidan J. He is our Patriots Pen Essay winner this year! Aidan valiantly promotes citizenship in our community! Way to go Aidan!
Here are some of the great bird and bat houses ready to go up in our school woods! We are so thankful for the support we have received for this project. If you are interested in helping renovate our woods (with labor or donations), please contact me at amhmarr@ithacaschools.net. Our goal is to have students heading out there for field trips in the spring!
Congratulations to our October Students of the Month! All of these students have been caught demonstrating positive character strengths during the month of October.
Congratulations to our October Students of the Month! All of these students have been caught demonstrating positive character strengths during the month of October.
4th grade Halloween games and activities! What a fun day!
We would like to thank everyone who came to parent/teacher conferences last week! We appreciate everyone who took time to be with us to discuss your child’s continued learning. At North we had a 92% turnout for those that attended their child's conferences. Parents who were unable to attend, please feel free to contact the school or your child's teacher for updates.
North Elementary Halloween Parade Information: 👻 We will begin promptly at 2:15 PM leaving North School heading South on Pine River Street to Center Street and back up to Main Street to the school. 🎃 Parents may view the parade along the route, but please do not join in the parade walking path. 🧛 Once students are back to their homeroom classroom after the parade they may be signed out by their adult from the office. Halloween Costumes Guidelines: 🎃 Halloween costumes - Yes. 🧟 Brought to school - not worn to school. 🧙♀️ No weapons, blood, gore, or inappropriate references. 👻 Staff will not be doing makeup or hair. 🧛 Allow time for changing into costumes before the parade. Backup Plans 🎃 If it is raining or snowing, we will hold the parade in the gym. 👻 Parents can be in the gym during the parade. Parents will not be allowed to pick up students until all students are back in their classrooms.
This week our school community will be focusing on the Other People Mindset of Knowing That My Words and Actions Affect Others. Everything that you say and do can affect others -- and your relationships with them.
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”--MOTHER TERESA
Just a friendly reminder that there will be no school on Friday, October 27th. We hope everyone has a relaxing three day weekend!
Sixth graders constructed and tested tennis rackets in STEAM lab this week. It was great opportunity to use their creativity!
